Patrick Michael O’Brien “Nature Boy”, 63, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at his home, as he wished, from Myeloid Leukemia. Pat was born June 19, 1952 in Berea, to Daniel, Jr. and Vivian (Bassett) O’Brien.
He is survived by his daughter, Missy Cormany of Cincinnati; granddaughter, Jasmine; brothers, Kim of Lodi, Daniel (Vickie) of Medina and Donny (Cindy) of West Salem; sister, Sherrie Roach of Medina and many nieces and nephews; Pat is also survived by his companion, Karen Kinney of Akron.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1981 and by his mother in 2002.
In Honor of Pat, family and friends are encouraged to wear Grateful Dead attire. Family and friends may visit from 1 to 2:30 and 6:30 to 8 P.M., Thursday, August 20, 2015 at the Bauer Funeral Home, 2089 Columbia Road, Valley City. Funeral Service will be 11 A.M., Friday, August 21, 2015 in the funeral home. Thelma Walter will officiate. Interment will follow at Eastlawn Memory Garden, Brunswick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the funeral home to help defray funeral expenses.

David Ray Frierson, 67, was “on the right side of the dirt” until Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 1:25 p.m., at the Veteran’s Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont. He was born in Sumter, South Carolina on October 24, 1947, the son of Robert David and Ruby Jean (Garrett) Frierson.
He married Sharon Louise Alonzo in Gates Mills, Ohio on June 5, 1971. David lived in Chatham Township, Medina, for 31 years and central Vermont for the past 12 years.
David was a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He served with Company C, 3d Battalion, 21st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade from May 1967 until honorably discharged May of 1973 with the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal.
He worked at Fisher Guide Plant, Division of General Motors in Elyria; HEB Manufacturing in Chelsea, Vermont, NEI Industries in Lebanon, New Hampshire and NEP in Randolph, Vermont, retiring in 2009.
He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion in Northfield, Vermont and lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed hunting, semi-pro archery, restoring classic automobiles and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon L. Frierson of Roxbury; his daughter, Robyn Anne Steward and her husband, Jason of Northfield, his son, John Q. Frierson and his wife, Vicki of Cape Coral, Florida; two stepsisters, Rhonda Thompson of Georgia, Debbie Brooks of Ohio; four grandchildren, Adam and Alec Steward, Cayla and Keyan Frierson and two step-grandchildren, Nathan Kappa and Evan Swarow.
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Michelle Lynne Frierson; his brother, Donnie Frierson and his stepbrother, Dan Herring of Georgia.
Calling hours will be conducted Thursday, August 20, from 6 until 8 P.M., at the Kingston Funeral Home, 35 Slate Avenue, Northfield, Vermont. A Funeral Service to celebrate his life will be held Friday, August 21, at 11 A.M., at Kingston Funeral Home, where military honors will be accorded.

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There will be some new faces in the nursing staff at Medina Schools this school year. The school board has contracted with Akron Children’s Hospital to provide nursing services in the buildings through the hospital’s school health program.

Medina City Schools

“We went out to bid, and they offered the lowest bid, and we were able to add an hour of staffed nursing in each building,” said Kris Quallich, Medina Schools director of Educational Services. The $220,000 contact was approved in spring for the year.

Details were presented to schools board members Monday night. Quallich said the new nursing staff will continue to work with parents and their pediatricians to administer medicine and monitor students with medical conditions throughout the day.

Michele Wilmoth, director of school health services for Akron Children’s Hospital, said her hospital group serves 26 school districts in five counties.

“We try to partner with schools and administrators to provide all aspects of your health needs,” Wilmoth said.

The district is interested in participating in a free program offered by Akron Children’s Hospital that would allow the district to keep epinephrine auto-injectors, which are portable antidotes used to treat allergic reactions. The most common type of auto-injector is known as an EpiPen, most commonly used to treat allergic reactions to bee stings or food allergies.

Quallich said the district previously kept auto-injectors on hand for students who brought them in with a prescription from their doctor. The new program allows the district to keep an extra supply to replace expired injectors or serve as an injector for a student who might not have known he or she had severe allergies.

“We’re really hoping to take advantage of that program,” Quallich said. “This would allow students who forget their pen, or if it was outdated, the school would have extras on hand they could provide.”

The new arrangement also puts staff into each of the buildings for an hour longer each day. All school nursing staff will be in the buildings for five hours, or from about 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“We can adjust the time to better suit the needs of the building, so we’re flexible in working with you to help you get the staffing there when you want it,” Wilmoth said.

There also will be a full-time RN available at all hours school is in session and can respond to any building for a serious medical issue. The district also has the opportunity to add programming provided by the hospital, including wellness and disease prevention programs for staff and students.

Quallich said the school district’s policy committee is reviewing the programming opportunities available through Akron Children’s Hospital and may add elect to include more optional programming for the district.

The Route 18 Corridor Project, scheduled for construction in spring 2019, will progress with or without boulevard islands.

The Ohio Department of Transportation would like to stay neutral on the issue of constructing three islands in the middle of the $18.2 million state Route 18 widening project. ODOT would prefer that Medina Township and Montville Township come to a consensus on the topic. Thus far, however, that hasn’t happened.

This section of Medina Road, between Foote and River Styx roads would be widened to five lanes by the Ohio Department of Transportation. (GAZETTE FILE PHOTO)

That might leave the tie-breaking decision with Medina County Commissioners.

ODOT spokeswoman Joyce Miller said the project is still in the preliminary design phase. She said it will either have islands that will prohibit left-hand turns onto Route 18 or what are called transverse lines. The yellow lines are to prevent drivers from crossing them.

The widening will take place on a 2.1-mile stretch of Medina Road.

“It’s designed to alleviate congestion and improve safety in that corridor,” Miller said.

From Foote Road to River Styx Road, the project calls for an expansion to five lanes. Almost all of that stretch of Route 18 is in Medina Township. From River Styx Road to Nettleton Road, it will be seven lanes. In that stretch, the two townships share the road.

“A lot of things need to happen before we begin,” Miller said.

She said there are four stages to the project, starting with the design phase. ODOT also must decide the right-of-way acquisition — any right-of-way from property owners to build the project — and also utility relocation before construction can begin. ODOT hopes to have the construction done by October 2020.

Miller said ODOT is projecting about $4.7 million for right-of-way acquisition and utility-relocation costs, and $3.8 million in engineering and design costs. Miller said the total project will cost approximately $26.7 million.

Miller said ODOT will apply to the Transportation Review Advisory Council for both right-of-way acquisition and construction funding. The council assists ODOT in developing a project selection process for the state department’s largest investments. It also approves major new projects.

The crux of the problem is three proposed medians that would occupy the middle lane. Medina Township is opposed to it. Montville Township wants it.

“ODOT has the final decision,” said Rob Henwood, director of the Medina County Planning Services Department. “I don’t think it cares either way. ODOT is looking for a consensus. That’s where the county commissioners come in. They are being asked to weigh in on the discussion. Ultimately, I don’t know what they’ve decided.”

Adam Friedrick, board president of the Medina County commissioners, said he wants the townships to make the decision. However, if they can’t come to a meeting of the minds, the commissioners will make a judgment.

“The road in question falls within Medina Township,” Friedrick said. “Medina Township should be given the authority, which is in favor of no dividers.”

Friedrick said the commissioners could draft a letter to ODOT when they make their final decision.

Ron Bischof, a Montville Township trustee, is looking at it aesthetically.

“We’d like grass or trees,” Bischof said.

He said he saw medians constructed in Middleburg Heights, Berea and Olmsted Falls, among others, and loved the way they looked.

“I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want them,” Bischof said. “We have concrete and asphalt.”

Bischof offered to have Montville Township’s maintenance crew maintain the proposed islands.

“We’ll do anything to enhance the beauty of that area in the future,” he said. “If that area is beautified, more businesses will come.”

The Medina Township trustees voted 2-1 against the islands. They also voiced their opposition to the islands in a recent meeting with Montville Township trustees.

Medina Township TrusteeBill Ostmann said he voted against the medians because the townships’ police, fire and service departments were opposed to them, as well as many of the businesses.

“I’ll back them up,” Ostmann said. “I don’t think it’s a wise expenditure. I would prefer stripes.”

Bethany Dentler, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corp., said many of the business owners have concerns about the project.

“There are two sides with the businesses, too,” Dentler said.

Business owners for Signature Square Plaza, home to 14 businesses, had traffic-flow concerns. The business owners are concerned that customers won’t be able to turn left onto Medina Road when exiting the lot.

Medina Township Trustee Ken DeMichael is on the fence about the proposed islands. He made the only vote in favor. The third trustee, Ray Jarrett, also was against the islands.

“We might have voted against it too soon,” DeMichael said. “There were some obstacles.

“I was in favor of pursuing the possibility (of having islands).”

DeMichael was against any islands that were restrictive to businesses. He said he would be in favor if the islands allow free flow of traffic in and out of the businesses, and they would have greenery on them.

“If done correctly, it would be nice,” he said.

Dentler said there’s no concern that ODOT would scrap the entire idea.

“The project will happen,” she said. “The question is whether they have medians.”

Students unload from buses at C. R. Towslee Elementary School on Wednesday morning for the first day of classes. Towslee, part of the Brunswick City School District, is home to more than 500 students randing from kindergarten to fifth grade. (NICK GLUNT / GAZETTE)

The first day of the new school year started smoothly Wednesday across Medina County.

Five of the county schools started Wednesday. Buckeye will start today and Black River begins Thursday, Aug. 27.

Brunswick and Medina are comparable in size and boast two of the largest enrollments in the state of Ohio. Brunswick Superintendent Michael Mayell said Brunswick has a little more than 7,500 students, a tad more than Medina’s 7,400.

Garfield Elementary was the site on Wednesday morning of parents wishing their children well as the students got a hug and headed into the buliding for the first day of the 2015-16 year. (BOB FINNAN / GAZETTE)

Many of the county’s superintendents visited their schools on the first day.

“I had a chance to visit six of our 10 buildings,” Medina Superintendent Dave Knight said. “On the first couple of days, I try to make the rounds. I try to get to as many buildings as possible today and tomorrow. I like to stick my head into some of the classrooms and meet the kids.”

Wadsworth Superintendent Andy Hill did the same thing as Knight. In fact, he spoke to his friend Knight by cell phone as they were visiting schools.

Wadsworth has about 4,800 students, 1,600 at the high school. That district has eight buildings, including five elementary schools.

“I went to all of them,” Hill said. “I like to pop into the different schools and talk to the students.

“It’s a great way for me to start the day. It was a really good first day.”

Mayell, who has about 2,500 students in the high school, said everything went well on the first day.

Knight echoed Mayell’s sentiments.

“There didn’t seem to be any calls, concerns or pressing issues,” he said. “But the day is not over yet.”

Knight said Medina has seven elementary schools, two middle schools and 2,400 students in grades nine through 12 at the high school.

He said the students all probably had a feeling of anticipation for the first day of school.

“They’ll reach out to reconnect with friends, have the potential of making new friends, figure out which teacher is yours and find out which room you’ll be in,” Knight said. “It’s an exciting time. It’s a warm feeling on the first day.

“It brought back a wealth of memories to when I went to school.”

Highland and Cloverleaf also started Wednesday.

“Things went really well today,” Wadsworth’s Hill said. “We had a very good first day. It was a very smooth day.”

He said there were a lot of people working behind the scenes to get the schools ready for the first day.

“It’s exciting to see it all come together,” Hill said.

A Sharon Township man allegedly stole more than $15,000 in music equipment from a church in broad daylight.

Andrew Bonarrigo

Detective Sgt. Kevin Ross, with the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, said it appeared Andrew Bonarrigo, 32, was staking out a second church in Norton shortly before he was arrested Wednesday.

“He was confronted by the some of the church members, and he said he was there for a meeting,” Ross said. “When they walked away, he immediately left the church.”

Norton police were contacted, and Bonarrigo was arrested on a warrant after a traffic stop, Ross said.

Bonarrigo was charged with theft and breaking and entering.

Ross said surveillance cameras appear to show Bonarrigo taking the equipment from Northside Christian Church on Ridge Road in Sharon Township on Aug. 8.

“He just went in, and people observed him loading up musical instruments and equipment,” Ross said. “They probably thought he was supposed to be there.”

The Rev. Ernie Graf, executive minister at Northside Christian Church, said there were several programs going on that day at the church, so a door was left unlocked.

“He just sort of wandered in,” Graf said. “I don’t know if he had been there before, but I think he saw no one challenged him when he came in, and then he started stealing our equipment.”

Graf said Bonarrigo was not a member of the church. Following the theft, Graf said the church notified other churches in the area — including the one in Norton that reported Bonarrigo to police — to be on a lookout for him.

Stolen items included a drum set, tambourines, amplifiers, drumsticks, microphones, microphone stands, laptop computers, wires and cables.

Earlier this week, Sheriff’s Deputy David King reported he saw a vehicle matching church members’ description of a tan and green Crown Victoria. King said he didn’t have probable cause to initiate a traffic stop. The detective said King recorded the license plate and relayed the information to detectives.

On Tuesday, Ross said sheriff’s deputies went to the home of Bonarrigo’s parents, which is near the church. Some of the stolen equipment was discovered at the home.

“They had no idea the stuff was stolen,” Ross said.

Bonarrigo was not at the residence, and an arrest warrant was issued. He was arrested the next day.

During the traffic stop in Norton, Ross said additional stolen items were recovered from his vehicle. In addition, police found receipts from pawn shops where some of the equipment was sold.

He is being held in the county jail, awaiting his first court appearance.

According to court records, Bonarrigo has a history of theft. He was convicted in Summit County in January and sentenced to probation.

Bonarrigo does not have an attorney listed. His parents could not be reached for comment.

The trumpet section of the Brunswick High School marching band practices on a recent August morning. (LAWRENCE PANTAGES / GAZETTE)

Brunswick High School marching band director Jay Wardeska showed a sly sense of humor about the politics of education during a recent early morning Blue Devils rehearsal.

Wearing sunglasses and a fisherman’s type of floppy hat, he spoke into his microphone and loudspeaker system to the entire band about the students’ need to focus on technique and execution.

With their high school stadium in the background, the Brunswick High School Marching Band works on a nearby field on a recent August morning under the direction of Jay Wardeska (center). (LAWRENCE PANTAGES / GAZETTE)

“Put your OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) skills to work,” he said, and then added, “ … on whatever test it is this time.”

With the school year beginning this week, Wardeska said the 190 members of the Brunswick band came to practices earlier this summer ready to work.

“They’ve been very motivated. This is the strongest start we’ve had to a year in a long time,” he said.

He credited the dry summer weather with helping the band take advantage of opportunities to sustain their dedication.

“It’s been the best weather possible. I feel like we should call (longtime Fox 8 meteorologist) Dick Goddard (who lives in Medina County).”

Wardeska said the Blue Devils’ performance show for 2015 is called “The Glass Slipper” and the music is a modern version of the Cinderella fairy tale, based on the 1950 Disney movie version.

Later in the school year, Wardeska’s program will welcome as many as 50 more musicians. He said it is a tradition at the school that students choose and then dedicate themselves strictly to one fall activity during that season.

Wardeska’s program is enhanced by several assistants who help him direct practices.

But he takes opportunities often to remind students about fundamentals that can help them be precise.

“What’s the No. 1 thing to improve your tone?” he asked the entire group through the loudspeaker.

Many answered at once: “Air!”

“That’s right,” Wardeska said. “No, you may not use all the air when you play but you can get accustomed with bigger breaths to hold nine-count-long tones.”

Not long after that reminder, there was a noticeable sneeze by one of the students and several polite “Bless you” responses quickly followed.

That led Wardeska, who was standing a few rows of marchers in formation away, to say, “I felt that sneeze up here. It’s because you had such good breath support.”

And after a laugh and a smile, it was back to work.

Cleveland guard Joel Bitonio blocks during the preseason game against Washington. Bitonio and the Browns’ offensive line will be facing a top defensive line tonight when the Bills come to town. (AP PHOTO)

The offensive line has the chance to make a statement tonight at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Granted, it’s only the second preseason game and Cleveland’s starters are expected to play only 15-25 snaps, but a strong performance against Buffalo’s highly talented defensive front would show the line is ready to be the strength of the offense. And that it should be considered one of the league’s best units.

The Bills’ front four of ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes and tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams is that good.

“This is one of the best defensive fronts in the game,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said during the joint practices with the Bills this week in Pittsford, New York. “You could make that argument just looking at their front a year ago. It would be hard to argue with that. For our guys to go against them in live work — to me, there is no way to have any substitute for that.”

The Bills defense easily got the best of the Browns offense during the practices at St. John Fisher College. Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams had his way with the right side of the Cleveland line, getting to quarterback Josh McCown, blowing up running plays in the backfield and batting passes at the line.

“Their defensive line is really good,” McCown said. “There’s no question about that. It’s the strong point of their team.

“It’s a good test and good matchup for us, for our guys. It was good to get a feel of it, and we’ll make some adjustments. It’s different than a game when you might not play that division opponent for three or four more weeks or six more weeks or ever again. We’ll make our adjustments and come out and play. It’s kind of like baseball.”

The Browns can get a measure of redemption tonight by keeping McCown upright and clearing a path for running backs Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West.

McCown was flawless in the preseason-opening loss to Washington last week, going 5-for-5 for 33 yards, a 2-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin and a 133.8 rating in his only drive.

The running game was on the opposite end of the spectrum. Crowell rushed four times for 6 yards and West four for 10, as room to run was difficult to find.

With the ugly stats added to running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery’s criticism that “nobody wants the (starting) role” and the lingering hamstring injury to rookie third-round pick Duke Johnson, plenty of people outside of Berea have concerns about the run game that’s supposed to power the fledgling offense.

Pettine said he’s not panicking this early on the calendar, and left guard Joel Bitonio followed his lead.

“I think we have three preseason games (left), I think we have a bunch of practices, I think we weren’t at full strength on the offensive line, running backs haven’t been in there,” Bitonio said. “Zone scheme, we’ve been in it for a year, but it still takes time with the quarterback, with the running back, with the receivers all on the same page. And we’re moving the ball on other ways on offense.

“I think once we get going by Week 1 we’ll be ready to go in that aspect.”

The good news is the starting line is one of the few areas on the roster not affected by injury. Five cornerbacks missed the end of practice Tuesday, including Joe Haden (hamstring), Justin Gilbert (hip flexor) and K’Waun Williams, and as many as 20 players could sit out tonight.

So it’s a good time to shift focus from the ball to the trenches.

“The whole group is a bunch of Pro Bowlers on both sides,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “So iron sharpens iron. You go against the best, and that is one of the best offensive lines in the league and certainly against one of the best, if not the best, defensive lines in the league.”

Bitonio has the chance to give the Browns three Pro Bowlers next to each other. Left tackle Joe Thomas has made eight trips to the all-star game in eight years, and center Alex Mack two in six. Bitonio fit in so seamlessly as a rookie last year — he was the No. 35 pick — Pettine predicted to FoxSports’ Jay Glazer he’ll be the breakout player on this team and move into the elite of the NFL.

“I think he showed flashes of it as a rookie and the way he has prepared himself for this season,” Pettine said. “I just think he is ready to take that next step. He is a guy that is very passionate and loves football, very competitive, very coachable. He is all about football.”

Line coach Andy Moeller continues to remind Bitonio that reaching an elite level isn’t a given.

“For a young guy last year, he did not give up a lot of bad plays or make a lot of mistakes,” he said. “He’s even got to be more consistently good, and he was real good last year as a rookie. And that’s the challenge when you’re pretty good or good at something. It’s harder to get better. What’s the good thing about not being very good, well, there’s great opportunity to get better, right? So that’s going to be a challenge for him.

“But I reminded him right after the season, by no means has he arrived. He’s got to look at himself across the league at the peers at his position and if he wants to be something special he’s got to play better than any of those guys.”

Bitonio doesn’t talk or act like someone resting on his laurels, and he isn’t shrinking under Pettine’s expectations.

“I think as a rookie it was a real solid year for me,” he said. “I got lucky playing next to Joe, and Alex is back now. I think for me in Year 2 it’s just the little details. Every little step, and Coach Moeller has really been on me this camp about perfecting the technique and perfecting things where last year he was like, ‘Oh, that was a good block, maybe it wasn’t the perfect technique.’ And now it’s like, ‘Be perfect so you can be better out on the field.’”

Tonight provides a golden opportunity to evaluate how far he and the line have come.

Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on Twitter.

A national campaign called Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over begins today and continues through the first week in September.

The campaign will help police place additional patrols and checkpoints throughout Medina County thanks to federal funding administered through the Medina County OVI Task Force.

Ohio Highway Patrol troopers and local police officers conduct a sobriety checkpoint in 2013. (GAZETTE FILE PHOTO)

“I wouldn’t say driving under the influence is a common occurrence, but it is frequent,” Brunswick Police Sgt. Kevin Scullin.

“We definitely make several arrests each weekend for individuals operating vehicles under the influence. The main danger is that when they crash, it can result in a lot of expense and injuries not only to the suspect, but to innocent people going about their day. That’s what makes it so dangerous.”

Scullin said extra resources help create what is called a “saturation” patrol.

“A saturation patrol is, essentially, a group of additional officers that will be at checkpoints beginning (today) and continuing through Labor Day,” Scullin said. “They are working through a grant, so their presence will not take away attention from the regular answering of calls.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, 200 children age 14 or younger were killed in drunken-driving accidents in 2013.

NHTSA also reported that more than 10,000 people died internationally in 2012 due to crashes related to drunken driving.

“Years ago, we had a traffic fatality in Brunswick that involved a young child,” Scullin said.

“It was devastating to the family and also to the community as a whole. We keep that in the back of our head. It is important to remember and acknowledge that driving under the influence can have an absolutely devastating and heartbreaking aftermath. We can prevent it by identifying intoxicated drivers and removing them from the roads.”

Scullin said that in 2015, county traffic fatalities have been lower than a year ago.

By August 2014, there were eight traffic accidents in Medina County that resulted in nine deaths.

A total of 15 people died in 2014, and six were related to operating a vehicle impaired, records show.

This year to date, five traffic accidents have resulted in six deaths. At least two were OVI-related.

Officials said the lower number is attributable in part to the success of police checkpoints and to the rise in community awareness.

“We would like to think they are so low because we have had so many checkpoints over the years,” Scullin said. “What is great is that people see checkpoints and talk about them and the presence of police in the community. People think twice about driving under the influence, and that helps save innocent lives.”

Medina County Historical Society Board members are shown Wednesday morning with Larry Prebis, production manager of Hansen Construction, in front of the John Smart House in Medina before repairs to the basement begin. From left, Tony Giovinazzo, Mary Jo Palmer, Shane Geringer, Prebis, Mary Jane Brewer, Mary Jo Palmer, Brian Feron and Judy Davanzo. (LOREN GENSON / GAZETTE)

The Medina County Historical Society is hoping to add a new floor of displays and educational space to the John Smart House by sealing the foundation of the more than 100-year-old home that doubles as a museum.

“We used to have meetings down there, but the moisture issues have gotten so bad,” board member Mary Jane Brewer said. “We’ve essentially lost one-third of our usable space.”

Excavation work begins Wednesday on the side of the John Smart House on Elmwood Avenue in Medina. The Medina County Historical Society has launched a $150,000 campaign to seal the foundation of the 1886 home and replace the basement floor. (LOREN GENSON / GAZETTE)

The historical society took over the home, built in 1886 by Medina businessman John Smart. The home was built in the Queen Ann style, and still sits on the original lot at the corner of North Elmwood Avenue and West Friendship Street. The historical society took over the home in 1984 and uses it to house many exhibits that tell the story of Medina County.

“The home is well built. Smart didn’t cut any corners,” board member Brian Feron said. But over time, water has found its way through the walls and seeps into the basement, making it damp and difficult to properly tile the floor and make use of the downstairs space.

“The tiles are just lifting up off the floor from the moisture,” Feron said. “We can’t replace the floor until we seal the foundation.”

The historical society is a nonprofit entity, and though it once received funding from Medina County, budget cuts have forced county leaders to end that funding.

Board members said a generous anonymous donation has allowed them to begin the work to seal the foundation, but they’re asking for community support to do renovations inside the building once the foundation is sealed.

“It’s up to us to raise the money to make repairs,” Feron said.

The society hopes to raise $150,000 to seal the foundation and replace the basement floor.

In the basement, there are displays of Native American artifacts from Ohio and the country. Feron said the displays should be housed in a dry environment and a remodeling of the basement would allow for better public access.

“Our floors and accommodations just don’t do these artifacts justice,” said Feron, standing next to a display of Native American artifacts.

To donate, visit to www.gofundme.com/mchscapital1 or call Brewer at (330) 722-1386. Follow the progress and learn more about the historical society at www.medinahistorical.com.

Medina leaders will appear on national television Saturday to talk about the next step in a nationwide competition of best places to live and work.

Frontier Communications and Dish Network are among the corporate sponsors of the contest called America’s Best Communities, and the city of Medina is one of 50 semifinalists.

About 2,000 candlelit luminaries line the sidewalks of Medina’s Public Square during the 30th Annual Candlelight Walk in November. (GAZETTE FILE PHOTO)

At 7:40 a.m. and 9:40 a.m. Saturday Jonathon Mendel, community development director for the city, and Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Main Street Medina, will be interviewed about Medina on cable television’s The Weather Channel. The interview will show the historic Public Square as a backdrop.

“You just have to tune in,” Wiederhold said. “I am speaking at 9:40 in the morning as part of a live Skype broadcast, and the International Fest will be in full swing.”

“The International Fest will be in the process of setting up in the background as I am being interviewed,” Mendel said.

“It is amazing how well everything has come together in the course of this competition,” Mendel said. “A lot of stuff serendipitously coalesced … like how the opportunity to speak about Medina came at the same time as our seventh International Fest. People will see the beautiful historic square abuzz with activity.”

There were 400 communities that entered the ABC competition, which is taking place over two years.

Medina entered in August 2014 after the local Frontier office presented the idea to community leaders. The competition is for communities with a population of less than 80,000.

“There is a team of organizations working to ensure Medina is recognized as the best community,” Mendel said. “The lead applicant is the Medina County Economic Development Corp. We have a really diverse team of public, private, for-profit and nonprofit entities.”

Others involved in the competition locally are 620 Corp., Root Candles, Community Design Committee, Discount Drug Mart, Gerspacher Real Estate Group, Greater Medina Chamber of Commerce, and business promotion and development group Main Street Medina.

“This national contest is a partnership between a handful of corporations that wanted to give back to their customers, and they will give away $3 million to what they consider to be the best community in the country,” Wiederhold explained.

“We absolutely expect to win,” Mendel said with a chuckle. “We expect to get $3 million. How can we compete in the ABC competition without being optimistic? We could do a lot with that influx of money, especially by way of community revitalization.”

Mendel added with another laugh, “I guess we’ll accept the second- or third-place prize of $2 million or $1 million if we have to.”

The next round of the competition will cut the semifinalist field to 15 communities in January.

Mendel said 15 communities will attend a conference in Connecticut at Frontier headquarters.

After that, the eight finalists will be determined.

Mendel said the eight will be awarded $100,000 to fund a community project, and then three finalists will be chosen.

Information on Medina’s progress through the ABC competition is at www.abcprizemedinateam.com or www.facebook.com/abcprizemedinateam.

A Medina County environmental organization Wednesday sued Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted after he threw out a fall ballot issue last week that would have placed restrictions on oil and gas projects within county lines.

Jon Husted

Sustainable Medina County was joined in its lawsuit by residents of Athens and Fulton counties, who had similar Nov. 3 ballot measures overturned by the state’s elections chief.

The organization had hoped to turn Medina County into a charter county by popular vote. More than 4,800 of the county’s approximately 123,190 registered voters signed a petition to put the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The lawsuit is expected to be expedited because it has to do with the upcoming election. A decision is expected next month.

If passed, the Medina County measure would have enacted a Community Bill of Rights — called a “bill of wrongs” by one county commissioner. The Bill of Rights primarily was designed to challenge the NEXUS Gas Transmission Pipeline, which is proposed to use eminent domain and appropriation laws to cross 20 miles of property owned by county residents.

Several county residents have said they oppose the pipeline because of concerns over health and safety, its potential damage to the environment and the effect it could have on property values.

In addition to opposing the pipeline, the charter would have granted protection to rivers, streams, wetlands and other ecosystems in Medina County. It would have blocked hydraulic fracturing operations, known as “fracking,” which is the process of injecting water and chemicals underground at high pressure in order to break up shale and release natural gas for its collection.

Similar complaints were brought by Fulton and Athens counties, though Athens’ motivation was spurred more by concerns over fracking than eminent domain.

The secretary of state ruled that the charter proposals in the three counties were not acceptable ballot issues. He said the measures would circumvent state law in a way that courts have ruled violates the Ohio Constitution.

“I am empowered,” Husted wrote, citing state law, “to ‘determine the validity or invalidity of the petition.’ ”

In Wednesday’s lawsuit, which was filed with the Ohio Supreme Court, residents of the three counties argue Husted’s invalidation of their ballot proposals was “unconstitutional, arbitrary, illegal and an abuse of his legal authority.”

“Respondent secretary of state is forbidden by pertinent constitutional principles from arrogating to himself the power to peremptorily ‘invalidate’ the three petitions because of his particular quibbles over their content and legality,” the lawsuit reads.

Sustainable Medina County was represented by attorneys provided by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, a Pennsylvania-based organization that provides free legal services to community groups working to protect quality of life and the environment.

In a statement, attorney James Kinsman said Husted has “trounced upon” the rights of county residents.

“It is the people’s constitutional right to vote on our own initiatives,” Kinsman said. “Mr. Husted — elected to serve the people of Ohio — is instead serving the oil and gas industry.”

Kinsman’s co-counsel, Terry Lodge, agreed.

“Secretary Husted has set himself up as Ohio’s censorship goalie,” Lodge said in a statement. “If the ‘wrong’ idea comes up for a vote, he alone can veto to cancel the election. If the Ohio Supreme Court OKs this arrangement, look for every future referendum that involves people versus corporations to disappear through the Husted loophole in Ohio, the ‘bah-no-no’ republic.”

Roger D. Allman, 68, of Grafton Twp., passed away Thursday, August 20, 2015 at his home, following a short illness. he was born in Jane Lew, West Virginia, grew up in Litchfield and had been a resident of Grafton Twp. for most of his life.
He was a 1965 graduate of Midview High School. Roger served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He worked as a core maker for Larson Foundry in Grafton and Cast Tech Aluminum in Elyria.
He was a life member of VFW Post 3341 in Grafton, where he was the first White Hat Commander, Am Vets, Elyria, American Legion, NRA and later on became a member of the Eagles in Columbia Station. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with friends and family.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Barbara (nee Conrad); sons, Roger Allman, Jr. of Garfield Hts., Duane (Jayme) Allman of Grafton; daughter, Mellissa (Kenny) Koerner of Spencer; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Virgil “Bud” (Polly) Allman, Jr. of Elyria and sister, Rhonda Goldsmith of West Salem.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Melissa Allman and sister, Connie Wood.
Friends may call Sunday, August 23, 2015 from 2 to 5 P.M. at the Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Road, North Ridgeville. Services will be held Monday, August 24, 2015 at 11 A.M., in the funeral home. Dan Winar will officiate. Burial will follow in Litchfield Cemetery, where VFW Post 3341 Honor Guard, will perform full Military Honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to HMC Hospice of Medina County, 5075 Windfall Rd., Medina, OH 44256.
For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.bognerfamilyfuneralhome.com

GRANGER TWP. — When Alan Fried took over as Highland wrestling coach this summer, the three-time state champion and one-time national champ talked about taking a solid Hornets base and building it up.

An Espoir world champion and the only four-time Junior Freestyle National champion in history is hitting the ground running through his wrestling academy with an Icons of Wrestling 2015 Preseason/Wrestling Clinic.

Over the span of four dates, the St. Edward legend will bring in individuals with a combined four Olympic gold medals, five world championships, eight NCAA national championships and four national wrestling hall of fame honors.

On Sept. 20, Olympic gold medalist, two-time Olympian and NCAA national champion Kendall Cross will grace the mats of Highland High School for a wrestling/coaches clinic. Tentative plans call for him to be followed by two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time world champion and two-time NCAA champion John Smith on Sept. 25.

On Oct. 18, Olympic gold medalist, three-time Olympian, world champion and NCAA champion Kenny Monday will be giving instruction, with four-time NCAA champion and two-time Junior National champion Pat Smith closing things out Oct. 25.

“I just want the guys to see the best technique and get advice from the biggest winners as quickly as possible,” Fried said. “When they hear what guys like that have to say, they’re going to realize they all have pretty much the same to say about drilling and with regard to the mental side. They’ll have some great things to say.”

For Cross, Monday and Pat Smith, coaches and children from first to sixth grade will have their clinic from 9 a.m. to noon, while those in seventh grade and up will have theirs from 1 to 4 p.m. For John Smith, the clinic will run from 5 to 8 p.m. for all ages.

The cost is $40 online for wrestlers and $50 at the door. For coaches, it is $30 and $35, respectively, with a $10 recording fee should anyone want to videotape the clinic.

It’s not just for Highland, either, as anyone can register.

“We’re trying to develop Ohio wrestling first and foremost,” Fried said. “We battle it out all year and at the state tournament, but we all have to come together as a state when it comes to a national tournament.”

With names and pedigrees like what Fried is bringing to Highland, there’s no doubt coaches and wrestlers alike will walk away with something.

“You get to be in the room, watch the technique and listen to the advice of the people who got to the top,” Fried said. “When you get to watch an Olympic champion drill or just talk, it’s a real privilege.

“That’s the one person that really nailed everything down and got everything right. They peaked at the right time and put it together. Everybody secretly strives to be the best. They need to hear from the best and know that they aren’t that much unlike how they are.”

Those interested can register at Friedwrestling.com. For more information, call Fried at (216) 317-2361.

Contact Brad Bournival at sports@medina-gazette.com.

Black River High School marching band members break into individual dance routines for a moment during a recent morning rehearsal at school. Director Liam Sleggs is at left. (LAWRENCE PANTAGES / GAZETTE)

Liam Sleggs wanted to come up with something inspirational for the Black River High School Pirate Marching Band for the 2015 season. So why not a theme of music from outer space?

Sleggs is in his first year as a director. He accepted the job at Black River as a 2014 graduate of Baldwin Wallace University in Berea. But he came to the job with several years of experience helping with other programs, including Brunswick.

During rehearsals for the 2015 marching band season, Black River High School members break down into smaller sectional groups for practice. (LAWRENCE PANTAGES / GAZETTE)

For the 2015 show, he chose themes from the “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Star Wars,” “E.T.” and “Star Trek.”

Although most people would recognize the music, Sleggs said with a smile that “E.T.” — made in 1982 — “is starting to fade” from popular memory because of its age. Also, there have been several versions of “Star Trek” music from both movies and television shows.

He is arranging the music and the drills for the Pirate Band’s show. “The stock arrangements don’t fit a marching band,” he said. “We’re trying for a 21st-century competitive style.”

Sleggs’ band has about 50 members, counting the flag line, majorettes and color guard. He said the number is up by 22 from a year ago.

Innovations that have helped increase participation include allowing people with multiple activities the opportunity to perform as long as they can attend a three-hour rehearsal each Wednesday and then play on Fridays.

Sleggs said he recognized the need for flexibility by learning that one of his students has 14 other club obligations, another is president of the school student council and still others have Medina County Career Center obligations.

Sleggs is a native of Orchard Park, N.Y., near Buffalo, and came to Northeast Ohio because of the music program at Baldwin Wallace.

He said he is especially happy that the band room inside the school was totally renovated.

“There are new lights, new floors, new tile and the asbestos was removed,” he said.

“I think the environment here will skyrocket,” he said. “The goal is to bring them to the best that they can be.”

Contact managing editor Lawrence Pantages at (330) 721-4065 or lpantages@medina-gazette.com.

MEDINA — Chad Toocheck has overcome bigger obstacles, so he vows not to let the disappointment of not being selected in the 2015 NFL Draft keep him down.

Chad Toocheck poses for a picture at Kenneth Dukes Stadium last year, where he played high school football for Medina. (GAZETTE FILE PHOTO)

Toocheck, a 2006 Medina High graduate who shared his lengthy battle with drug and alcohol addiction with Gazette readers last summer, caught 45 passes for 688 yards (15.3-yard average) and five touchdowns last season as a senior at Division II West Alabama.

The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder was a unanimous first-team All-Gulf South Conference selection and attended pre-draft camps in Chicago and Arizona, but tweaked his hamstring at the latter and was not picked in the seven-round NFL Draft. Nor did he latch on with any of the league’s 32 teams as a free agent.

The 27-year-old’s disappointment was captured by a crew from NFL Network, which will begin airing the documentary “Undrafted” in September.

“I had put so much into the draft, into making that happen, that spiritually, mentally, emotionally, it took a lot out of me,” Toocheck said Thursday. “I’ve got to get back to my sobriety basics. I’m on slippery ground.

“I’m not going to go drink or use drugs again, but the disappointment of me not getting to where I wanted to go weighed heavily on me. I had to tone everything back and remember where I came from. Even though I didn’t make it to where I ultimately wanted to go, I’ve made it a long way from where I was.”

Sober since Jan. 30, 2008, Toocheck recently returned to Medina and is living with his mother, Mary Alice “Sam” Toocheck. He is volunteering as a wide receivers coach on Dan Sutherland’s varsity staff at Medina and eager to start sharing his story with high school students as a public speaker.

To that end, Toocheck recently met with 1997 Medina graduate Stefanie (Sizemore) Tolar, who was profiled in The Gazette last week and has shared her addiction story with more than 40,000 people as a public speaker.

Toocheck also has already spoken to almost every member of Medina’s current varsity football team individually, and plans are in the works for him to share his life story with the Bees in a group setting in the near future.

“I want to reach the masses as far as changing your life or not making bad decisions,” he said. “That’s what I’m passionate about.”
Toocheck, who spent a year at Santa Barbara City College, played three seasons at West Alabama and earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore and first-team honors his last two seasons. He was a preseason All-American prior to his senior year, but a new coaching staff decided to use the run-oriented wing-T and West Alabama finished a disappointing 5-6. The Tigers were 9-4 and D-II playoff participants his sophomore year and 8-3 his junior season.

“I had high hopes and a lot of other people had high hopes,” Toocheck said of his senior year. “Football was tough. It was just tough. No one likes to lose.”

Toocheck needs two classes to complete his degree in exercise science and plans to take them at an area school next semester. He played briefly for an arena football team in Washington before re-injuring his hamstring and is unsure whether he will continue to pursue a pro career, but hasn’t ruled out attempting to get a tryout with a Canadian Football League team next season.

“I’m on the fence,” Toocheck said. “I honestly don’t know. That’s the transition period now. Do I keep going or do I move on?”

One thing Toocheck definitely plans to do is continue to share his story, the goal being to help others. Those interested in hearing him speak can reach him at ctoocheck8@gmail.com.

“I don’t have a kid and I’m not married,” he said. “I don’t even have a girlfriend. I can literally dedicate my entire being to this.”

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @RickNoland on Twitter.

Swingman J.R. Smith announced Thursday on Instagram that he had agreed to a contract with the Cavaliers.

J.R. Smith

“Happy to say that I am returning to the Cavs!” Smith wrote. “It’s been a long ride this summer but I can say for sure, well worth the wait. When I opted out of my contract, I wanted to understand the landscape of the NBA and where I fit best. The Cavaliers had things they needed to do in order to piece together a championship caliber roster.

“I ended up deciding that instead of potentially securing a larger deal elsewhere, I wanted to rejoin an incredible organization in pursuit of the ultimate goal, an NBA championship. Thank you to the Cavaliers for making this happen. Can’t wait to get started!”

Smith opted out of a deal that would have paid him $6.4 million in 2015-16 to become an unrestricted free agent, but attracted next to no interest around the league.

The 29-year-old’s new deal is believed to be worth $5 million for next season, with a player option for 2016-17. There were reports it also included a no-trade clause.

“Welcome back brother @TheRealJRSmith!” four-time league MVP Lebron James posted on Twitter. “Happy you’re sticking around.”

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Smith averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Cavs last season while starting 45 of the 46 games in which he appeared after being acquired from New York. He shot .390 on 3-pointers.

The 11-year pro also started Cleveland’s first four playoff games, but was suspended for two games after striking Boston’s Jae Crowder in the face.

Smith came off the bench the rest of the way as the Cavs reached the NBA Finals. He averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the postseason, but was a huge disappointment as Cleveland lost to Golden State in the finals.

Smith’s signing leaves Tristan Thompson as the Cavs’ last order of business. Thompson is seeking a five-year deal for $90-94 million, while Cleveland is believed to be offering $80 million.

Also Thursday, the Cavs announced they will play seven preseason games, with three on their home court at Quicken Loans Arena, another at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University and their opener slated for the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, as well as several other veterans, are unlikely to appear in every exhibition game.
Cleveland will open the preseason against Atlanta, which was swept by the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Xavier. The Cavs will play at Philadelphia on Oct. 8, then host Ohio State product Mike Conley and Memphis at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Schottenstein Center.

Cleveland will host Milwaukee at The Q at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13 and Indiana at The Q two nights later, also at 7 p.m. After a 6 p.m. game in Toronto on Oct. 18, the Cavs will conclude the preseason the next night by hosting Dallas at 7 p.m. at The Q.

Tickets for exhibition games at The Q will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10. They will be available at Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Mart locations, through Cavs.com and at The Q box office. There is a limit of six tickets per person.

Tickets for the games at Xavier and Ohio State will also go on sale Sept. 10. They can be purchased through Cavs.com and the Cintas Center and Schottenstein Center box offices, as well as through Ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. Additional fees may apply.

The Cavs will open the regular season Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. in Chicago, with the game nationally televised by TNT. They will play at Memphis the next night.

Cleveland’s home opener is Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. against Miami and will be shown on ESPN.

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @RickNoland on Twitter.

Cleveland’s Josh McCown is sacked by Buffalo’s Jerry Hughes in the first quarter. (AP PHOTO)

CLEVELAND — Quarterback Josh McCown was perfect in the preseason opener last week.

That wasn’t the adjective to describe his performance Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Shane Wynn catches a 21-yard touchdown pass as Buffalo Bills strong safety Duke Williams defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game on Thursday. (AP PHOTO)

McCown threw interceptions to end the first two drives and managed only three points while playing the entire first half with the first-team offense. He was harassed by Buffalo’s star-studded defensive front, as he was sacked three times and pressured on both ill-advised throws.

Backup quarterback Johnny Manziel provided a late jolt to a lifeless game with a 96-yard drive in the fourth quarter. The Bills answered with a touchdown in the final two minutes, and the Browns (0-2) lost 11-10 to the Bills in a game missing many of the best players from both teams.

Manziel went 6-for-7 for 95 yards on the scoring possession. He rolled left and hit rookie receiver Darius Jennings on a 37-yard cross, and two plays later faked a handoff, stepped up in the pocket and found rookie receiver Shane Wynn alone in the corner of the end zone after an out-and-up fooled the defense.

Manziel couldn’t find any late-drive magic. He took over at the Cleveland 17-yard line with 1:26 left and the drive stalled at the 45. He finished 10-for-18 for 118 yards, a touchdown, three sacks, a 94.2 rating and three runs for 19 yards.

McCown finished 7-for-10 for 57 yards and a 44.6 rating. He went 5-for-5 with a touchdown and 133.8 rating last week against Washington.

McCown was picked off both times by cornerback Ronald Darby.

The first throw went off tight end Gary Barnidge’s hands in heavy traffic. Barnidge was crushed on the play by the defense and evaluated for a concussion, but was cleared to return. The Browns played it safe and kept him on the sideline.

The second interception was neither accurate nor wise. With the pocket compromised, McCown threw it up for grabs deep down the right sideline in the vicinity of receiver Andrew Hawkins. The throw came off his back foot, floated and didn’t reach Hawkins.

McCown salvaged something for his night with a nearly nine-minute drive that all but ended the half. He threw 11 yards to tight end Jim Dray, 8 yards to receiver Brian Hartline on third-and-6 and 10 yards to Hartline.

Isaiah Crowell (5 rushes, 14 yards, 2.8 average) added a 13-yard run with a sturdy stiff-arm of linebacker Preston Brown and Terrance West (11, 42, 3.8) rushed for 4 yards on fourth-and-1 as the run game showed a pulse for the first time.

“It felt good,” West said. “The offensive line had some holes for us, and we took advantage. As a team, we just have to keep attacking the defense and taking advantage of what the defense gives us. Tomorrow, I am going to go in and look at the film and see my mistakes and fix them.”

The drive stalled when defensive tackle Marcell Dareus got past center Alex Mack for a sack. Travis Coons kicked a 41-yard field goal to tie the game at 3.

Manziel could’ve put serious pressure on McCown with a strong outing — at least among some fans and members of the media. But working with the second team, Manziel managed only the one strong drive in five possessions.

The Browns defense took advantage of a Bills offense searching for a starting quarterback and missing its best receivers and running backs because of injuries. Cleveland held Buffalo to 70 rushing yards in three quarters with three sacks, allowing only a 36-yard Dan Carpenter field goal in the second quarter to end a drive by starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Quarterback EJ Manuel finished strong to win the game for Buffalo as he tries to keep a roster spot. He led a 12-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. Manuel found receiver Andre Davis, who beat cornerback Aaron Ross, who was signed this week.

The Bills went for the two-point conversion to avoid overtime and Manuel hit running back Bronson Hill in the flat for the winner.

The Browns had their own injuries to overcome. Twenty players didn’t dress, including eight defensive backs.

Jordan Poyer, who started in place of free safety Tashaun Gipson (calf), left the game with a concussion. He lowered his head against running back Ricky Seale and walked into the wrong huddle. He remained in the game for a while, despite holding his head in his hands.

The Bills couldn’t capitalize on the backups in Cleveland’s defensive backfield that was missing Gipson, starting cornerback Joe Haden and nickelback K’Waun Williams.

“I think we came out with the right mindset,” strong safety Donte Whitner said. “A lot of people were caught up in who was injured and who wasn’t playing. We were more focused on who was playing and building depth for the team.

“We take away that we still have to get better. We have a bunch of details to get down and master. We went through some adversity tonight. We take that away from it. We can deal with adversity. It is not always going to be perfect, but when it comes down to making plays, we are going to make them.”

Wynn, an undrafted rookie from Cleveland’s Glenville High School, continued his strong camp. In addition to the touchdown, he had a 58-yard punt return wiped out by a penalty.

Rookie third-round pick Xavier Cooper again showed the ability to get to the quarterback. He had two sacks of Manuel in the second half, adding to the one he had in the opener.

Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on Twitter.

Scott Petrak

The Gazette

Josh McCown’s right ring finger is fine. So is his grip on the Browns’ starting quarterback job.

“We feel good about where Johnny (Manziel) is as the No. 2 and we feel good about where Josh is as the No. 1 and also understand that a large part of it is a supporting cast thing,” coach Mike Pettine said Friday on a conference call. “Our thoughts on the quarterback picture are the same this morning as they were going into last night.”

Pettine effectively pumped the brakes on the Manziel-mania that was resurrected after the 11-10 preseason loss to the Bills on Thursday night. McCown threw two interceptions and Manziel led a 96-yard touchdown drive, and that was enough for many to suggest Pettine open a quarterback competition.

Instead, he stuck to the plan that’s been in place since McCown was signed to a three-year, $14 million deal in February. McCown is “firmly” the starter and Manziel the backup.

McCown, 36, jammed the ring finger on his throwing hand and X-rays after the game were negative. He was evaluated further Friday morning, and Pettine said he won’t miss any practice time.

“He’s good to go,” Pettine said.

So McCown will continue to prepare with the starters and likely play at least the first half next Saturday night against Tampa Bay in the third preseason game. Pettine also stayed with his plan of not naming a starter for Week 1 at the New York Jets.

“I’m not into guaranteeing or announcing a Game 1 starter,” he said. “That, to me, comes down the road. We’re just looking to have a good week of preparation and go out and play Tampa and get better.”

The stance will invite further questions about Manziel perhaps stealing the job.

“I don’t control the questions outside the building,” Pettine said. “So I’m not going to have my actions just be based on that. We have a plan for our quarterback room as we have a plan for all of our other positions, and we’re going to stick to it.”

The Browns have been careful not to put too much pressure on Manziel, the No. 22 pick last year. He spent 10 weeks of the offseason in a treatment facility that specializes in addictions and had a lot of catching up to do after a terrible rookie season.

A couple of solid weeks of training camp and a few preseason highlights aren’t enough to sway Pettine. Especially when all the snaps came with backups against backups.

“I just don’t want too much read into that,” he said. “We have a pretty good plan we feel for Johnny’s development and I think we’re on schedule with it.

“He’s shown great improvement from the day he set foot back in the building and, to me, we get very individualized during the preseason. We just want him to go out and do his job for one play and hit the reset button, do it again.”

Pettine likes Manziel’s state of mind and believes he’s benefited from the environment in the quarterback room that stresses accountability.

“I think a large part of it has to do with his focus, that clearly he’s all about football,” he said. “I just think it’s a product of the progress that he’s made personally, and that’s obviously shown up for him professionally.”

The organization’s plan for Manziel’s development is simple.

“For him to go out and get better every day, learn a new system,” Pettine started, “and just for him to improve and be in a position that when his number’s called to be out there and perform for the Cleveland Browns, he can do it to the best of his ability.”

Manziel led one scoring drive in five possessions and was 10-for-18 for 118 yards, a touchdown, a sack, a 94.2 rating and three runs for 19 yards. His best plays led to the touchdown — a strong 37-yard throw to Darius Jennings as he scrambled left and the 21-yard touchdown pass to Shane Wynn after sliding up in the pocket.

“I thought Johnny early on did some good things,” Pettine said. “I thought it got a little bit ragged at the end. That might have been more of a function of the circumstances of the game and who he was out there with.

“Overall, I think he made strides, was still calm in the pocket. Got flushed probably more than we wanted him to get flushed, but he still made some plays on the move with his feet. Those were some encouraging things to see.”

Manziel won a Heisman Trophy by turning a broken play into a big play at Texas A&M. He still appears most comfortable on the move, but is getting better inside the pocket.

He recognized the blitz on a few occasions and adjusted accordingly, but also missed it, couldn’t avoid the defensive back and took a sack on third-and-6.

“I think a 96-yard drive is better than the 30-yard drive we had last week so that was better,” Manziel said after the game. “I felt like things were slowing down still. I was able to make some protection calls and get our guys lined up. I think we played a little bit faster.”

Left tackle Joe Thomas believes the key to upper-level quarterback play is succeeding from the pocket. He sees growth from Manziel.

“He’s a popular player because he’s a fun player to watch — the way he escapes and runs around and throws the ball downfield,” Thomas said. “It’s like watching someone in the backyard in a Turkey Bowl.

“You got to see a lot of that tonight and I think he’s learned to pick and choose the times he does that instead of majoring in that. And from my perspective, that’s an improvement.”

Manziel’s getting a little antsy watching the first-team offense, but likes the progress he’s making.

“Would I like to be in there with the ones, sure,” he said. “But that’s not my call, and if that decision does come, hey, I’ll be ready to hop in there. But for now, making the most of the opportunities I’m getting.”

McCown’s night against the Bills boiled down to the two early interceptions — a throw high off tight end Gary Barnidge’s hands in traffic and a wayward jump ball down the sideline for Andrew Hawkins. McCown recovered to lead a field-goal drive and finished 7-for-10 for 57 yards, three sacks and a 44.6 rating

“There were a couple of throws he’d want to have back,” Pettine said. “He made some good plays, he just wasn’t as settled with his feet in the pocket as he had been. That’s something that we need to work on. But our protection wasn’t what it should be. That was a pretty good front we were going against.

“Overall, I thought he did some good things, had good command. But we’re in a results business and unfortunately he had the one tipped interception, which was unfortunate. And the other one was a ball that he clearly … he forced it. That’s a lesson we’d rather learn in the preseason than in the regular season.”

Contact Scott Petrak at (440) 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @scottpetrak on Twitter.